Watch mechanism



Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNi'iE-. STATES PATENT orrics WATCH MECHANISM Application July 29, 1932. Serial No. 625,597

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to watch mechanisms or movements and more especially to improvements in winding posts or stems therefor.

I-Ieretofore it has been customary in such mechanisms to provide the stem shaft with annular shoulders with which cooperates a finger carried by a detent or lever element which lever is adapted to operate clutch mechanism throw 1 ing into and out of operation the winding apparatus and setting apparatus. As the finger slides between the two shoulders there is of course considerable wear thereon during winding and setting operations and eventually play develops to such an extent that the mechanism ceases to be operative or becomes easily broken.

Among the objects of the present invention is to overcome these defects and provide a more rugged element for taking the wear and to reduce an to a minimum or entirely eliminate any Wear on the finger which is, as stated above, secured to the lever or detent.

Other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates a portion of a suitable watch mechanism showing the parts in setting position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in winding position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of aportion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5. of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective view, and

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fi 5 but showing a modification.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modification, and

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of a stem assembly.

In the drawing a suitable frame for the watch movement is indicated at 10 and at 11 is shown one of the train of gears having to do with the hands of the watch and the setting thereof. At 12 is shown a suitable milled knob or cap piece threaded uponthe end of the stem 13 which carries splined thereon a clutch member 14 slidable lengthwise of the stem 13 to engage the crates with its mating element carried by gear 17 which is a part or" the gear train for winding the watch.

This clutch element 14 is carried in a suitable slip ring in the end of a supporting spring member 20 fixed on the as at 21, the spring member 20 serving to guide the clutch in its up and down movements and tending to thrust it into the winding position of Fig. 2.

In the particular mechanism shown the clutch member 14 is moved up and down on the stem 13 05 by means of detent or hell crank lever 25 pivotally mounted on the frame as at 26 and having one of its arms 2? acting on the upper side of spring member 2G which at the point of cooperation is provided with a cam surface. The other arm 28 of the lever 25 is provided with a finger 29 entering a lateral opening 30 in a sleeve 31 which surrou the being fixed against endwise movement by means of a shoulder 32 formed on the shaft and the lower end of the v knob 12. This sleeve is mounted on the shaft 13 so as to be rotatable thereon and is sufiicicntly ru In the pa trated there is form of mechanism illus- "n a spring 40 provided at 89? its free end ll i a cam portion which rides a pin 42, the cam swing to maintain the lever 25 in one of its two positions.

The operation of the device is quite similar to the ordinary operation of winding or setting 35 a watch, 11 ely, when the stem is in its inward position such sho in Fig. 2, rotation thereof will thru gear 17 i the spring of the movement. When the ste is pulled to its outer po- I sition as shown in Fig. l, the gears 15 and 16 will be in mesh and the gear 17 so so that rotation of the knob 12 will operate to set the hands.

In 7 is shown a small modification of the device already descri In t is figure the sleeve is in most respects similar to sleeve 31 except that the shaft 13 extends eccentrically thru the sleeve thus providing more stock on the side containing opening 36a so that a still more rugged device is provided.

In the modification shown in 8, the sleeve 31b is shown as provided with a pin 29B fixed therein and cooperating with an eye 30B in the end of the lever 283. This is obviously the mechanical equivalent of the previously described form.

In Fig. 9 there sleeve ShOVJlL'lg a .M l to 5 in that shou rounded or conical l Now having describe. the

preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth, but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

What I claim is:

1. In a watch movement having a winding stem or post adapted to be moved out of normal winding position for setting, a shaft provided with shoulders, a rotatable sleeve between said shoulders and provided with a lateral opening, a clutch operating lever provided with means cooperating with said sleeve to move said lever when said shaft is moved longitudinally and means to fix said lever in winding or setting position.

2. In watch mechanism having a winding post adapted to be moved to permit setting, a clutch element, a lever for operating said clutch element to a plurality of positions, a finger on said lever, and a rotatable sleeve on said post having means cooperating with the finger on said lever and means to prevent longitudinal movement'of said sleeve on said post.

3. In watch mechanism having a winding post adapted to be moved to permit setting, a clutch element, a lever for operating said clutch element to a plurality of positions, a finger on said lever, and a rotatable sleeve on said post having means cooperating with the finger on said lever and means to prevent longitudinal movement of said sleeve on said post, said sleeve being eccentric to said post.

4. A watch construction comprising a winding and setting stem, and a bearing sleeve held against longitudinal displacement on said stem, said sleeve having one or more recesses for the engagement of a setting lever and being free of the stem in respect to rotation.

5. A watch construction comprising a winding and setting stem having a fixed, inner shoulder and an outer, removable shoulder, and a bearing sleeve confined between said shoulders but free in respect to rotation of the stem and having one or more recesses for the engagement of a setting lever.

6. A watch construction, comprising, in combination with a setting lever, a winding and setting stem having a shoulder intermediate its ends and a crown applied to the outer portion of the stem, and a bearing sleeve confined on the stem between said shoulder and crown but free in respect to rotation of the stem, said sleeve and stem coacting with the setting lever.

'7 In a watch construction, which includes a setting lever and a winding wheel, a winding and setting stem having a shoulder enlargement immediately above the winding wheel, a part applied to the outer portion of the stem, and a bearing sleeve confined between said part and said shoulder, said sleeve having one or more recesses for the engagement of the setting lever.

SOLOMON COCHIN. 

